Review
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World J Hepatol. Jan 27, 2014; 6(1): 1-8
Published online Jan 27, 2014. doi: 10.4254/wjh.v6.i1.1
Redox therapeutics in hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury
Rakesh P Patel, John D Lang, Alvin B Smith, Jack H Crawford
Rakesh P Patel, Department of Pathology, Center for Free Radical Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, United States
John D Lang, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98108, United States
Alvin B Smith, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249, United States
Jack H Crawford, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35249, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the design of the review; Patel RP and Crawford JH wrote the review; Smith AB designed and developed the figure; all authors contributed to critical revision and editing of the article.
Correspondence to: Jack H Crawford, MD, PhD, Professor, Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Department of Anesthesiology, University of Alabama Birmingham, 619 19th Street South, JT 845, Birmingham, AL 35249, United States. dunston@uab.edu
Telephone: +1-205-9347424 Fax: +1-205-9963195
Received: October 4, 2013
Revised: December 2, 2013
Accepted: December 17, 2013
Published online: January 27, 2014
Core Tip

Core tip: Reactive oxygen and nitrogen species play a central role in the pathology of ischemia-reperfusion injury. In this review we discuss the efforts of many groups to trial therapeutics to ameliorate this damage in animal models of disease as well as clinical trials in humans. The failure of some trials has served to highlight the complexity of timing and compartmentalization of Ischemia Reperfusion injury. Finally, we discuss the emerging potential of replenishing nitric oxide by nitrite therapy and the uniquely broad therapeutic profile of nitrite.